Professional Readiness and Implementation Barriers for Non-invasive Neuromodulation Among Attendees of an Educational Module in Mexico: An Exploratory Cross-sectional Survey.

Abstract

Background: Non-invasive neuromodulation is increasingly used in selected neuropsychiatric disorders, but implementation depends on professional readiness, training, access, perceived legitimacy, and local feasibility. This study assessed knowledge, perceptions, barriers, baseline willingness to recommend neuromodulation, and future implementation or referral intention among attendees of an educational neuromodulation module in Mexico.

Methods: We conducted an exploratory cross-sectional survey among attendees of an in-person educational neuromodulation module at a specialized academic congress in Mexico. Anonymous, real-time items assessed baseline familiarity; perceptions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, and transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation; perceived barriers; baseline willingness to recommend neuromodulation; and future implementation or referral intention. Analyses used descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, Spearman correlations, and exploratory univariate logistic regression.

Results: A total of 111 participants answered at least one item. Baseline familiarity was limited: 22.2% reported basic knowledge, and 84.6% strongly disagreed that they had personal equipment. Baseline willingness to recommend neuromodulation was 63.2% and was associated with basic knowledge (OR = 2.90; 95% CI = 1.44-5.84; p = .003), prior exposure (OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.07-2.35; p = .023), and perceived sufficiency of evidence (OR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.21-2.99; p = .005). The main barriers were cost/accessibility (78.0%), patients' lack of knowledge (36.6%), and lack of technical training (29.3%). Final-block implementation-intention findings were exploratory because of the small effective denominator.

Conclusions: Among attendees of an educational neuromodulation module in Mexico, receptivity toward non-invasive neuromodulation was favorable, but operational readiness was limited. Responsible implementation may benefit from competency-based training, referral pathways, patient education, regulatory literacy, and sustainable access models.